British Home Secretary Theresa May confirmed the news that a special holding area will be constructed next to the ferry terminal and Channel Tunnel entrances in northern France which will be able to contain up to 230 lorries.

The facility is an attempt to avoid a repeat of scenes at the end of last month involving thousands of migrants trying to break into lorries.

Mrs May said: " I can announce the creation of a new secure zone at the port of Calais for UK-bound lorries.

"This will provide a secure waiting area for 230 vehicles – the equivalent of removing a two-and-a-half mile queue from the approaching road.

"This should transform protection for lorries and their drivers – removing them from the open road where they can become targets for migrants attempting to board their vehicles."

Queues on the approach to Calais ran for miles last month following strike action by French ferry workers.

The UK also announced plans to begin talks with other European Union countries to bring the security of their freight lorries up to British standards.

Currently only seven pc of illegal immigrants discovered coming into the UK by authorities are in British-registered trucks.

"We need to ensure that the rest of the world’s freight transport industry is keeping up with the UK’s," Mrs May added.